Archive for November, 2011

This is not my bathroom countertop, but it looks very nice and clean!

I recently heard this bathroom cleaning tip from a group of super clean women: wipe down the bathroom counter daily. Take everything off and wipe everything down and put it back. I started doing this last night and it was so nice to wake up to a clean bathroom!

I can do this at night right after I brush my teeth. I’m usually not in a rush when I’m going to bed, so I have plenty of time to move everything off the counter and do a thorough wipe down. Never again will I need to do a grimy deep cleaning of counters in a rush! I won’t be embarrassed when someone drops by unexpectedly, and all I can think about are my dirty counters (actually I’m not that neurotic yet, but it crosses my mind from time to time).

Of course, I’m using my favorite all-purpose bathroom cleaner, Soft Scrub Total Bath & Bowl. But you could use any bathroom cleaner you prefer. Check out CleaningProductsWorld.com for more bathroom cleaning supplies such as sponges and wet wipes.

EARLY BLACK FRIDAY SAVINGS

Save 10% off storewide at CleaningProductsWorld.com for Black Friday. Use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout. This coupon expires November 28, so start shopping now and save! We have cleaning products for cleaning up after that big Thanksgiving meal. Check out floor cleaning supplies to get your house ready for the upcoming holiday season. Order from CleaningProductsWorld.com for free shipping on orders over $50 and fast delivery in 2-3 days!

Tips for Cleaning Your Dryer Vent

Thanks to All Pro Chimney for the image!

One place that you might never suspect of needing cleaning is your dryer’s vent. This innocuous looking flexible tubing collects lint from each load of laundry that cycles through your appliance, eventually accumulating and leading to the potential for a fire.

Safety Considerations
You do not want to be featured on the news for blowing up your house due to a gas explosion, so if your clothes drying appliance is run by natural gas, disconnect the gas. If it is electric, unplug it. Wear a face mask to keep dust and lint out of your mouth and nose. Do not reach your bare hands into the vent tubing, as there are screws and sharp pieces that may injure you.

1. After disconnecting your dryer from its power source, slide the appliance out about two feet from the vent extension.
2. Use a screw driver to unscrew the vent clamp from the back of the appliance.
3. Take the vent off the back.
4. Reach into the vent opening on the back of the appliance and use a vacuum hose to remove built up lint around the opening.
5. Use the vacuum hose to suck up the lint.
6. Use the vacuum hose to reach all the way into the tubing as far as the vacuum hose will go.
7. If there is a lint buildup that your vacuum hose cannot reach, a plumbing snake can go through the full length of your tubing.
8. Put the clamp back onto the vent opening.
9. Screw the clamp back into place on the appliance.
10. Re-attach the vent tubing.
11. Put the appliance back into its place.
12. Go outside and remove the outside portion of vent tubing. If it also needs cleaning, bring it into the house or garage and use your vacuum hose to suck out the lint. Note: This tubing might be difficult to remove, as it may be caulked in place. If this is the case, a razor blade can liberate the tube from the caulking.
13. Return the outside vent tubing and secure it. If you need to recaulk it, do so on a dry day so the caulk will seal properly.
14. Turn on the electricity or gas to your appliance.
15. Run your appliance for 10 to 15 minutes on its lowest, non-heating setting to blow any lingering debris out through the vent tubing. Do not stand outside to watch this, unless you want to end up looking like a dust bunny or tumbleweed.

Hiring Professionals
Handymen and professional cleaning services can take care of the task of vent and tubing cleaning for you. Expect to pay anywhere from $25 per hour plus a service call fee for a handyman, or a flat fee of about $100 for a professional cleaning service. If your vent tubing is especially long or if the outside vent is difficult to reach, expect to pay more. If any parts need replacement, expect to pay more for the parts and installation.

Janice is a health administrator, part-time web copywriter, and dryer vent cleaning master. When not completing her own home improvement projects, she loves sharing her how-to tips for cleaning, storing and organizing even the most off-putting spaces. 

What do you recycle? Answer on Facebook to win recycled toilet paper! Celebrate America Recycles Day with a $5 OFF coupon for CleaningProductsWorld.com. Use Coupon code: recycle. Expires 11/22/11.

I fell in love with a cleaner this weekend. Soft Scrub Total Bath & Bowl Cleaner was fast, effective, and fun to spray! It has a great trigger sprayer that is angled, and can even spray upside down. I used this on my toilet, shower, tub, and sink. I even used it on the linoleum floor! The patented trigger sprayer sprays either a thick foam or a liquid spray, depending on your cleaning needs.

Personally, I think the foam sprayer is much better than the dinky liquid spray, and you can really see where the spray sticks to the surfaces. The spray shoots quite a distance, about 3 feet, so I could reach the shower surfaces without getting really close.

Heavy duty cleaning is tackled easily with this bathroom cleaner. I even used it on some kitchen grease on the wall and it worked well.

There’s no harsh smelling chemicals like ammonia or bleach in this cleaner, so you don’t have to worry about mixing chemicals if you use other cleaners in the bathroom.

I think I’m going to buy a whole case for all my bathroom cleaning needs. Buy Soft Scrub Total Bath & Bowl at CleaningProductsWorld.com for fast delivery in 2-3 days and use it on all your bathroom fixtures, floors, walls, and more!

Many people have used the same kind of bath soap for years. Camay Bath Soap users buy it in the case from us at CleaningProductsWorld.com because they can no longer find it in stores!

Though many people have soap brand loyalty, Ivory bath soap is trying a new look to attract customers. They have new print ads, with quirky slogans like, “When dirt changes its formula, so will we,” “Meticulously scented to smell exactly like soap,” and my personal favorite, “Only you can say no to loofahs.”

With a Facebook page and celebrity mom spokesperson, Ivory soap is entering the digital age. Like Ivory soap on Facebook to join in on the conversation!

Ivory soap has been made for over 125 years! With no heavy perfumes or lotions, it is a popular soap for both men and women as reported in the NYTimes, and for parents to use for bathing their children. Those with sensitive skin also enjoy the additive free Ivory soap.

Do you use Ivory bar soap? I remember using it in the bathtub as a child. It was a great bar soap for my sensitive skin, and the best part was, it floated! Ivory soap makes a great addition to bath-time play.

We have Ivory bar soap available in individually wrapped packages at CleaningProductsWorld.com for fast delivery in 2-3 days. Each bar is 3.1 oz, with 3 bars per pack, and 24 packs per case. Buy a bulk case of Ivory bar soap today and save! Use coupon code IVORY10 to save 10% off.

Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner available for free shipping and delivery in 2-3 days! Take $5 off with coupon code 5OFF.

Additional savings of $10/CS back with manufacturer rebate. Just Download the Rebate Form and send it to Johnson Diversey with your order confirmation from CleaningProductsWorld.com. This offer is available for products purchased through 12/31/11. Stock up on Fantastik for your school cleaning, household cleaning, or commercial cleaning purposes today!

View Rebate & Coupon Details.

Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner is great at removing tough stains such as crayon, grease, pencil, and more from cabinets, counters, stoves, microwaves, refrigerators, ceramic tiles, bathtubs, and floors. Just spray it on and wipe with a lint free cloth. Our customer service representative Melinda says it works great on removing crayon from walls. Try it, and let us know what you think.

My Mr. Fix-it-Boyfriend recently bought a house, so we’ve been spending all our free time renovating and cleaning. After pulling out all the dilapidated filthy carpeting. our new house, we found that there are hardwood floors throughout the house, with a few exceptions. Although they looked like they were coated in some sort of powdered clay, I was determined to get them clean and shining. We had considered a buff and recoat, but it wasn’t in the budget or timeline for priority of things to be done.

After thoroughly sweeping, a few mop buckets of Spic and Span got most of the dirt and build up off the hardwood. As the final step, to get the natural luster of the wood to shine, I applied a coat of Mop & Glo with a clean mop.

The result? Beautiful hardwood floors in my new dining room, ready for a Thanksgiving dinner!

Come back again soon for more tales of renovations!

Don’t forget to change your clocks this Sunday. Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday 11/6 at 2 AM. Turn them back 1 hour before going to bed!

Use coupon code FALLBACK for free shipping on any order this weekend at CleaningProductsWorld.com. Expires Monday November 7.

Looking to get a new puppy?  While very rewarding, be prepared to spend a lot of time training and cleaning up various messes.  If you are new to pet ownership, these tips for cleaning up puppy accidents and generally picking up after your dog will save you a little time as well as maybe save you from pulling your hair out! 

Even the most experienced and attentive owners will end up with messes they would have rather not had, and find themselves cleaning up after the dog regularly.  These tips can make having a new puppy more manageable.

1)Having the right cleaning products nearby can help save your carpet and furniture.  An all purpose disinfectant cleaner and PLENTY of paper towel, probably more than you think you would need, (I just went through 4 rolls this week personally with my new puppy) will help you clean up puppy accidents immediately.  If the puppy accidentally goes on the carpet, the faster you can clean it the better.  Take some paper towel, and pick up or mop up the mess without rubbing.  Next, spray liberally with the cleaner and repeat using more paper towel until the mess is gone.

2)I’d recommend puppy pads over newspapers while working on housetraining your puppy.  The puppy pads are more absorbent, and if you have to leave the dog alone for a period of time it will be much easier to pick up after your dog than if you used newspaper.  The humanesociety.org has an excellent guide for housetraining.

3)You may not have a lot of dog toys at the moment, but week after week, year after year, they will certainly accumulate!  Having a decent sized storage bin for all of the puppy toys is a must.

4)Spot cleaning the carpet, even if you act fast, still leads to a good chance of a stain remaining behind.  Once a stain sets in, a carpet stain remover will be most effective rather than trying to scrub it away later with regular cleaner.

5)Having difficulty with pet hair getting on everything?  A dog breed that sheds a lot can cover your furniture very quickly, and scrubbing at it with a cloth won’t get you anywhere.  A neat trick that works on most furniture is to use a lint roller or rubber lint brush to get the hair off easily.   Also if you don’t want your furniture smelling like your favorite pooch, Febreze air and fabric refresheners are great for eliminating odors.